Insects - Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers - page 255

638

Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner) ( 638-640 )
Carnation tortrix moth
Originally from southern Europe and nowadays a
common greenhouse pest in many parts of Europe,
including the British Isles where it was first reported in
1905. Ornamental hosts include bay laurel ( Laurus
nobilis ), Cupressus , Cytisus , Daphne , Dianthus , false
acacia ( Robinia pseudoacacia ), Fuchsia , Grevillea ,
honeysuckle ( Lonicera ), Hypericum , ivy ( Hedera ),
Japanese spindle ( Euonymus japonica ), privet
( Ligustrum vulgare ) and many others. In favourable
districts infestations occur outdoors. Also present in
Asia Minor and North America.

638 Female carnation tortrix moth ( Cacoecimorpha
pronubana ). DESCRIPTION

Adult female: 18-22 mm wingspan; fore wings pale
orange-brown, reticulated with darker brown; hind
wings mainly orange. Adult male: 12-17 mm
wingspan; fore wings orange-brown, with variable
reddish-brown and blackish markings; hind wings
bright orange, each with a blackish border. Egg: flat and
oval; light green, laid in a large, scale-like batch.
Larva: up to 20 mm long; olive-green to bright green,
paler below, and with slightly paler pinacula; head
greenish yellow or yellowish brown, marked with dark
brown; prothoracic and anal plates green, marked with
dark brown; anal comb green, usually with six teeth.
Pupa: 9-12 mm long; brownish black to black;
cremaster elongate and tapered, with eight strong,
hooked spines.

639

639 Male carnation tortrix moth ( Cacoecimorpha pronubana ).

LIFE HISTORY
Adults appear mainly from April to October, but are
most numerous from May to June, and in late August
and September. The males have a characteristic, erratic
flight and are very active in sunny weather. Eggs are
laid on leaves in large groups of up to 200, the shells
overlapping like roof tiles, and hatch in 2-3 weeks.
Larvae at first browse on the surface of leaves,
sheltering beneath a slight web. Later they feed in spun
leaves, shoots or blossom trusses. Pupation occurs
within the larval habitation, in a freshly folded leaf or
amongst webbed foliage, and adults emerge shortly
afterwards. The winter is usually passed as young larvae
sheltering on the host in silken webs.

640

DAMAGE
The larvae are voracious feeders, and cause
considerable harm to foliage, buds and flowers.

640 Larva of carnation tortrix moth ( Cacoecimorpha
pronubana ).